Round 20 charges: Maloney guilty; Burgess handed downgrade

Penrith will turn to a fifth choice five-eighth to replace James Maloney but talismanic skipper Sam Burgess will still lead the Rabbitohs against Melbourne in a mixed night at the judiciary for two of the NRL's biggest names.

Burgess's grade two charge for a high shot on Cronulla's Matt Moylan was downgraded on Tuesday night, resulting in a $1900 fine and no suspension for the big Brit.

Moylan has since been ruled out of action this week due to ongoing concussion effects suffered in the tackle, after initially passing his HIA and returning to play last weekend.

Maloney's failed bid to overturn his one-game ban for tripping Bulldog Jeremy Marshall-King, rules him out of Friday's critical clash with Cronulla, leaving the Panthers with fifth-string five-eighth options Sione Katoa or untried Dubbo product Matt Burton to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves, with Jarome Luai (eye injury), Wayde Egan (shoulder) and Tyron May (stood down) all unavailable.

Melbourne prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona was slapped with a dangerous contact charge following Friday night's 40-4 demolition of Brisbane.

Asofa-Solomona was charged with dangerous contact to the neck/head of Broncos forward Patrick Carrigan after an incident in the 55th minute of the round 20 match at Suncorp Stadium.

He is free to play against the Rabbitohs in round 21 after an early guilty plea and now has 90 carry-over points against his name.

Eels back-rower Manu Ma'u is facing a fine after being charged with a grade 1 careless high tackle. The fine will be $1150 if he makes an early guilty plea.